Making the Electron Microscope

The electron microscope has evolved over a century, from barely resolving virus particles to capturing atomic detail. In the 1930s, Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll designed the first prototype by replacing glass lenses with electromagnetic coils to focus electron beams. By 1938, electron microscopes captured images of viruses, leading to modern cryo-electron microscopy revealing atomic details within proteins. Challenges like imaging live cells, thick tissues, and high costs persist, but electron microscopy remains crucial in bridging molecular structures and living functions. Breakthroughs in cryogenic methods and computational techniques have further enhanced electron microscopy's capabilities, enabling near-atomic resolution and transforming structural biology.